Immigration groups press Philadelphia sheriff for stronger ICE stance, sheriff defends policies

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Immigration advocacy groups and the Philadelphia sheriff are at odds over how to confront federal immigration enforcement in the city, despite both sides saying they oppose recent aggressive actions across the country.

Protesters with the group No ICE Philly gathered outside the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office on South Broad Street, calling on Sheriff Rochelle Bilal to strengthen her office's policies regarding ICE.

Organizers said they emailed a petition with more than 6,000 signatures and a list of four demands, including that the sheriff's office tighten its policies and refrain from collaborating with ICE at the Criminal Justice Center courthouse.

"ICE's presence in our city is a threat to every single Philadelphian, no matter what you," one protester said during the demonstration. "We'd love to see more action from her to hold people in her office accountable when they are breaking the policy or collaborating with ICE," said Aniqa Raihan, a No ICE Philly volunteer.

Bilal, who has previously spoken out against ICE alongside District Attorney Larry Krasner, rejected claims that her deputies have cooperated with federal agents.

"They were supposed to bring evidence about whether our deputies were collaborating with ICE and what they saw. We haven't gotten that evidence yet," she said.

The sheriff said she met on Monday with No ICE Philly and several other organizations to discuss their concerns. A meeting with the sheriff was also one of the demands laid out in the plan submitted by immigrant rights organizations.

"They had two protests prior to even asking for a meeting with me," Bilal said, refuting the notion that she'd refused to meet with the groups on prior occasions.

Advocates also want the sheriff's office to prevent ICE agents from making arrests outside the courthouse.

Raihan said, "The sheriff is saying that's not within her jurisdiction and we disagree that's courthouse safety."

Bilal countered that her office cannot exceed its legal authority.

"I don't know what else she want us to do, other than break the law, and we're not gonna do that," she said.

According to Bilal, deputies already secure the inside of the courthouse against ICE arrests when agents do not have a judicial warrant. She pointed to existing policies her office has enacted, even as protesters continue to push for additional measures.

No ICE Philly has also called for more protections for legal observers. The sheriff's office said it has offered to hold a follow-up meeting if advocacy groups provide evidence supporting their claims of deputy collaboration with ICE.